Apparatus for supplying wire from wire supply spools to bending presses



May 21, 1 946. Jl. s. BURGE 2,400,739

' APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS TO BENDINGPRESSES "original Filed Feb. .25, 1942 e sheets-'sheetr 1 INVENTOR W' 9BY p1/MMM,

y AT'roRNEY/f May 21, 194s. J. s., BURG; 2,400,739 APPARATUS FORSUPPLYING WIRE 4FROM WIRE SUPPLY 'ISPOOLS T BENDING PRESSES @riginalFiled Feb. 2s, 1942 e sheets-sheet 2 May 21946 J. s. BURGE 1 2,400,739APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS TO BENDING PRESSESoriginal Filed Feb.. 2s, 1942 e sheets-sheet :s

. N l w N W A BY i A Y J. S. BURGE APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROMWIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS .TO BEND'ING PRESSES May 21, 19546.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original FiledfFeb. 23, 1942 ATToRNgY/d- May 21, 1946.4S J. s. BUR'GE 2,400,739

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLVIING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS T0 BENDING PRESSESOriginal Filed Fe'b. 23, 19427 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 /JINNTOR S BY `Maly21, 1946. J. s. BURGE 2,400,739 AlPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRESUPPLY SPOOLS TO BENDING PRESSES Original Filed Feb. 25, 1942 6Sheets-Sheet 6 the press-operated shaft and means for facili- PatentedMay Z1, 1946 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS TOBENDING PRESSES James S. Burge, Anderson, Ind., assigner to GeneralMotors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Originalapplication February 23, 1942, Serial No.

431,984. Divided and this application November 6, 1944, Serial No.562,137

8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying Wire, which is carriedby a supply spool, to a wire-bending press having a wire cut-off.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.431,984, filed February 23, 1942, which describes and claims anintermittently operating wire-feeder having feed rolls which move intothe wire-bending press the correct amountof wire to be cut 01T andformed.

The object of the invention claimed in the present application is tominimize the jerk upon the l' wire when it is started on its movement bythe feed rolls of the wire-feeder. To accomplish this, the wire passesfrom the supply spool over a resilently supported slack-take-up guidewheel and to the feed rolls, and the spool is constantly rotated by ashaft driven by the wire-bending press. Enough braking pressure isapplied to supply spool as it rotates to prevent over-travel andabnormal slack inthe wire between the spool and the feeder.

n A further object is to provide means for facilitating the ejection ofan empty spool from brackets which support the spool in alignment withtatingthe mounting of a full spool upon saidi brackets.

A further object is to provide for the disconnection of the spool fromits drive shaft and the application of a stopping brake thereto inresponse to the release of a member whichwill cause the clutch,connecting the crankshaft of the wire-bending press with its powersource, to be disengaged when the press crankshaft arrives at av certainpoint in itstravel.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown. I

In the drawings: p

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing a wire unreeling device, embodyingthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the wire unreeling device as viewed inthe direction of arrow 2 in Fig. l. i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the wire unreeling device.

Fig. Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in the direction of arrow 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the drive shaft of thewire-bending press and its connection with a drive shaft ofV the-wireun- 4 is a view in the direction of arrow# of reeling device and adiagram of the clutch control mechanism of thevwire-bending press.

The Wire is unreeled by the mechanism constituting the invention of thepresent application and is formed in a Wire-bending press having afeeding' mechanism described and claimed in application, Serial No.431,984. This mechanism receives the wire W from a supply spool S (Fig.l). Wire W passes from the spool S around a iiexibly supported pulley 5|`and between two` sets or straightening rolls 62 and S3 carried onbracket 64 supported by bracket 65 and post 65 which are attached to theframe El of the wire-bending press. The wire unreeling mechanism,designated by numeral 18 in Figs. 1 and 2, is driven by the formingpress shaft 28 which drives a sprocket 1| connected by a chain i2 (Fig.6) with a sprocket 14 driving a shaft 15. The shaft 15 (Fig.v 2) ismounted close to the floor which supports the wire forming press andunreeling device and it is protected Vby a cover 16. Another cover 11encloses sprockets and a connecting chain, these partsbeing the sprocket'|8`connected with shaft l5 (Fig. 4), a sprocket 19 connected with ashaft 8|] and a connecting sprocket chain 8| which is held taut by anadjustable idler sprocket 82. As shown in Fig. 3, shaft 8i) is supportedby bearings 83 and 84 mounted in plates 85 and 86 respectively attachedto a plate 81 mounted on an upper base 83 which in turn is mounted on alower base 88.` The shaft drives a worm 98 meshing Vwith a worm gear 9|which drives a shaft 82 supported by bearings 93 and 94 mounted inplates 81 and 96, respectively, located between plates and 8G 'andattached thereto. The left end of shaftj82 is splinedly connected with adriving clutch 98 urged by a spring 99 into engagement with a drivenclutch 4lliil carried by a shaft IDI supported by bearings |82 and m3mounted in plates |84 and |05, respectively, located between plates 85and 86 and secured thereto. Plate |05 extends to the upper base 88 andis secured thereto. Driving elutchSB is shifted along the shaft 92 byfluid pressure means comprising a cylinder |||l (Fig. 4) mounted uponupper base 88 and enclosing a piston, not shown, connected by rod and anadjustablerod ||2 and a clevis H3 and a pin H4 with a lever H5 pivotallysupported by a screw or stud attached to frame plate 81. Lever H5 isconnected by a pin |20, clevis |2|, rod |22, clevis |23 and pin |24 withlever |25 connected with a shaft |?6 supported by plates 85 and 88 andcarrying a bifurcated lever |21 having pins |28 engaging an annulargroove |29 formed in the hub of the clutch member 98. When it is desiredmanually `supplements spring |90.

to disconnect shaft 92 from shaft |0|, a hand lever |30 (Fig. 2)connected with shaft |29 may be used to disengage the clutch members 99and |00.

Clutch part 99 drives clutch part |00 at a rate such that when the spoolS is full of wire, the length of wire W unwound from the spool by thedriving of shaft 15 by the press 20 is sublstantially the lengthrequired to form one hairpin. As the diameter of the wire coil remainingon the spool S decreases, the feeder shown in application #431.984, willpull out more wire than can be unreeled by the rotation of shaft 15.Therefore, spool S turns faster than shaft 92, and clutch part overrunsclutch part 08. However, the burden placed upon the feeder of pullingthe spool S ahead of the press-rotated shaft 92 is decreasing becausethe mass of wire on the spool is decreasing.

Shaft 92 is prevented from moving endwise by attachingto its right end acollar |3| engaging the xed bearing 93. A collar |32 attached to shaft92 bears against the fixed bearing 94. Shaft |0| is prevented frommoving endwise by the clutch |00 xed thereto at the right end andengageable with the fixed bearing |02 and by thecollar |33 fixed to theshaft vand engageablewith the ixed bearing. |03.

The left end of shaft |0| isV splinedly connected with a driving clutchliengageable with `which'the shaft |42 extends when the spool 'w4mounted upon the unreeling apparatus. ,flange |59 of spool S (Fig. `r2)is wedged against `the cone |49a which is fixed to the shaft |42 at Thea 'predetermined distance from theclutch 14| which is also Xed to theshaft |42. Cone |49a vcarries anarm |52provided-with a hook |53 adaptedto't in a hole |54 in the flange |5| 4of the spool.

The clutch |40 is normally engaged with the clutch |4| by a spring |69(Fig. 4). -Clutch |40 may loe-separated from clutch |4| by a lever I6!whose bifurcated upper end carries pins |02 `received Aby anannular'groove |63 inthe hub ofclutch |40. Lever |9| ispivotallysupported by apin |94 (Fig. 2) mounted on arm |55 of a vbracket plate|93 (Fig.-4) attached to plate |05.

Plate |09 `carries a guide pin |61 extending through a hole |08 inYlever |6| and* surrounded by a spring |39 which is conned between theplate and the lever |6| so as to urgelever ISI toward the left to causeclutch'part |40 to engage clutch part |4l. Therefore spring |69 Lever|0| `.-is moved clockwise or toward the rightvin Figs. 2 and 4 byproviding lever |9| with a wear piece |10 engaged by -cam |1| (Fig. 3)provided by a bar |12 attached to aslide |13 connected by pin |14(Fig-4) YAYwith a lever |15-having branchesY |15a,

|15b and |150 through which thepin |14 extends. Lever-I'i is vattachedto a shaft |16 supported'bybearing brackets |11 and |13 attached-to thebase 89 (Fig. 3). Shaft|16 is operated by a lever |80 (Fig. 2) and shaft|13 lcarries a lever llhaving bifurcations |3|a and i6|b (Fige) betweenwhich a link |82 is located and is connected to lever |8| by a pin |83.Between the bifurcations |15a and |1512 of lever |15 a link |84 similarto link |82 is located and is connected with lever |15.by the pin |14.The pin |83 is received'by elongated hole |3311 in link |32 (Fig. 5).Pin |14 extends through a similar elongated hole in the link |84.Therefore as lever |80 is moved toward the left or counterclockwise inFig. 5, the bar |13 will move ahead of links |02..and |84 in order toeffect the disengagement of clutch |40 from clutch |4| before the links|82 and |84 start to move toward the left. The upper ends of links |92and |84 are pivotallyconnected at |86 with the cradle plates |44 whichare pivotally connected at |81 with pedestals|45- Therefore, when links|32 and |84 are moved toward the left, the cradle plates |44 are rotatedcounterclockwise upon their pivots |81 in order to eifect the dischargeof an empty spool S which drops to the oor carrying with it its shaft|42 and its bearings |43.

To mount upon the cradle plates |44- a lled spool which has considerableweight, the lever |80 is first returned to normal position so that thecradle plates |44 will be in position to receive the bearings |43 whichare mounted upon the shaft |42 which is passed through the full spool.The return movement of the cradle plates |44 is effected by moving thelever |80 clockwise (Fig. 5). This movement can be arrested by thestriking of a pin |90 on lever|00 witha lug I9| of a lock pedal |92which is pivotally supported on a pin |93 carried by a bracket |94attached to base 80 and enclosing a spring|95 urging the lever |92upwardly. At the time the pin |90engages the lug |9|, said pin |90 is inthe dot dash line position |90a (Fig. 5), while the lug |9| is in theposition |9|a and lever |92 in the position |92a. The lever |00 istherefore heldin the position |8011 shown in dot dash lines. Thereforelever |00 has not returned to its normal position Wherein the cam hasbeen retracted from the wear Agated holes 99 (Figli) in the plates |45.

piece |10 of lever |9|. Therefore, the clutch |40 is still in afpositionwherein it would be disengaged from the clutch |4|, wereclutch |4| thenin alignment with it. Therefore the apparatus is in position forreceiving a new spool S together-with its supporting shaft |42 andbearings |43 and the clutch. |4|. attached to the shaft |42. The placingof thenew spool S upon the cradle plates |44v is effectedthrough theassistance of a pair of levers |99 having notched lugs |91 for receivingthe shaft |42 which projects from the ends of the spool. The levers |96are supported by screws |98 which passthrough elon- The levers are tiedtogether by a handle bar 200. The lower ends of the levers |353 areengaged by levers 20|a and 20H), lever 20|@ being a short lever andlever 20H) being a long lever carrying a pedal pad 202 (Fig. 5). Thelevers 20|a and 20|?) areboth attached to a shaft 203 supported bybrackets 204. Lever 2|||b is notched at 205 to clear the shaft |16.

The levers |99 are placed close to the floor (Fig. 2) and the spool S isrolled on the floor between these levers, then the levers |99 are raisedby the handle bar 290450 that the notched lugs |91 will engage the underside of the shaft |42 passing through the spool. While the operatorlifts up on the handle bar 209. he stands upon the pedal 202 in order tomake use of his weight acting through levers 20m and 20|() to assist inlifting the levers |99 vertically while he is moving themcounterclockwise by pushing on the handle 250. In this way, the heavyfull spool S is elevated to a position above the cradle plates so thatit may be pushed into alignment with the clutch |42 preparatory todropping the shaft |42 and its bearings |43 upon the operator cradleplates |44. When the spool is thus positioned, he steps from the pedal222 so that the levers |95 may descend. As the spool descends, itshearings |43 are engaged by retainer plates 2|0 pivotally supported onpins 2| I and urged clockwise (Fig. 5) by springs 2|2 attached to theplates 2I0 and the studs 2I3 fixed to the pedestals |45. As the levers56 descend the weight of the spool may be transmitted through its shaftand bearings |43 first to the upper ends |45a of the pedestals |45,thereby forcing the plates 2li) downwardly. As the shaft |42 is movedinto alignment with the clutch |45, the bearings |43 roll off the upperends |4512 of the pedestals |45 and into the recesses of the cradleplates |44 thereby permitting the retainer plate-s 2|!! to spring upwardly to normal position shown in Fig. 5. rIhen the operator depressesthe pedal |92 in order that its lug IBI be clear of the pin |99, therebypermitting lever |85 to be moved to its normal position shown in Fig. 5,thereby causing the cam bar |1| to release the wear piece |10 of lever|6|, thereby permitting spring ISI! to cause clutch |45 to engage clutch|4I. Then the new spool of wire is connected with the shaft IUI.

The clutch (not shown) for connecting the press drive wheel 21 with itscrankshaft 25 can be controlled manually by a lever 255 (Fig. 6) whichrotates a shaft 255 or the shaft 253 may be automatically controlled byan arm 251 connected With a piston rod 258 connected with a piston (notshown) in cylinder 259. The ends of cylin der 259 are connectedrespectively by pipes 255 and 26| with a valve 262 having a pressurefluid inlet pipe 253 and an exhaust pipe 264. Valve 252 is controlled bya rod 255 connected with solenoid armatures 266 and 251 attractedrespectively by solenoids 268 and 269. When solenoid 268 alone isenergized, valve 252 is caused to connect pipe 253 with pipe 26|) tocause shaft 256 to turn counterclockwise to trip the press clutch forstopping when the die carrier 22 is in the position shown in Fig.` 6.When the solenoid 259 alone is energized, the valve 262 is conditionedfor causing clockwise rotation of shaft 255 to close the press clutch.When the press is stopped as the result of passing pressure fluidthrough pipe 26|?, pressure iiuid flows through pipe 2l' to the upperend of cylinder I il) (Fig. 4) to cause rod to move down to cause clutchpart B8 to be disengaged from clutch vpart |530. `Rotation of shaft Iii!ceases, but the press shaft 26 may rotate to outer-dead-center.positionat which po.. sition the press clutch disengages. When the press isstarted into operation as the result of adrnittinor pressure fluid topipe 25 pressure fluid passes through pipe 21| to the lower end of thecylinder (Fig. 4) to cause rod to move up to effect the engagement ofclutch part 98 with clutch part |50 thereby connecting the spool shaft|42 with shaft 92 which rotates while the press shaft 26 is rotating.

During the operation of the machine and while the spool S is turning,the peripheries ||la and |5|a of its ends |50 and I5! are engaged by abrake plate 22| (Fig. 2) attached to a shaft 22! supported by brackets|4519 attached to pedestals |45 and urged upwardly by a spring 222(Figs. 4

and 5) attached to a lever 2220i fixed to shaft 220. Spring 222 isattached by a chain 223 to a sprocket 224 which is loosely journalled ona 'stud 225 screwed into the left pedestal |45. Stud 225 is fixed to adisc 225 having radial teeth 221 for engaging similar formed teeth 228in the hub of sprocket 224. A spring 229 confined between sprocket 224and a nut 230 on stud 225 urges the teeth 228 of sprocket 224 intoengagement with the teeth 221 of the disc 226, thereby retaining thesprocket 225 in any desired position of adjustment into which it mayhave been moved by a handle 23| connected with said sprocket 224. Bygrasping the handle and pulling the sprocket 224 out of engagement withthe disc 226 and by turning the handle the tension of the spring 222 maybe adjusted to adjust the braking operation on the spool; andthe releaseof the handle 22| permits the spring 229 to hold the sprocket 224 in thedesired position of adjustment.

The brake plate 226 is controlled also in respense to the application ofpressure fluid to the cylinder IB. When the press 20 stops, rod I andlever II 5 (Fig. 4) move down to disengage clutch parts 98 and |96 ashas been explained. When lever I |5 moves down it carries with it ablock 24|) (Figs. 4 and 5) pivotally supported at 24| by the level' I5.Block 24B is apertured vertically to receive a rod 242, the upper end ofwhich is threaded to receive adjusting nuts 243 and 244.. Between .thenuts 244 and block 245 there is located a spring 245 which transmitspressure yieldingly from the block 24B to the nuts 244 thence to the rod242. The rod 242 transmits this pressure to a pin 245 at the left end ofa lever 241 pivoted at 248 (Fig. 5) and having a lever arm 249 pressingupwardly against the brake plate 22|. An extra braking pressure isapplied to the spool S suflicient to stop it when the press 2s stops sothat no wire will be unreeled until the press starts. The starting of'the press is accompanied by relief of this eXtra braking pressure,leaving spring 222 (Fig. 4) only effective to apply the brake plate `22I. When threading wire through the feeder of application #431,984, thespool SV is relieved of eXtra braking pressure, by moving lever (Fig. 2)to the left which causes lever ||5 to be lifted and lever arm 249 (Fig.5) to be retracted from plate 22|.

An apron 25|) protects the shafts VI 1S and 2133 the spool rolls fromthe floor into a position to be elevated by the levers |95.

The apparatus is -used in the following manner: Beforev threading thewire from a full spool S, which has been placed in unreeling position inthe manner described, the press 2|) is stopped by causing the solenoid258 to be energized byclosing a suitable switch (not shown). For safetyand economy, thepower drive (not shown) of the flywheel pulley 21 shouldbe rendered inoperative. The pedal |92 (Fig. 5) is left in position|9205 so that the lever |83 cannot be pulled from position ISiia. Thisprovides for separation of clutch parts |40 and |4I (Fig. 2). Whilelever |35 is located so as to lift bar H5 and thus to relieve thepressure of lever 249 (Fig. 5) on brake 22|, wire is pulled from thespool S and is fed intothe feeder of application #431,984; The wirehaving been passed through the feeder and into the press 20, the pedal|92 is pressed and lever |85 is moved from position la to position |85(Fig. 5) to provide for the engagement of clutch parts and I4|. Thewire-bending press and the wire-feeding mechanism are caused to operate.The press shaft 26 (Fig. 6) operates to drive the unreeler shaft |42,which drives the spool S so that uni-eeling of the wire takes placecontinuously. as long as shaft 25 is rotating. The feeding mechanismvpress shaft and of application Serial #431,984 operatesto move the wireintermittently at a timewhen-the Wireforming dies of the press arelseparated. As the wire is started into motion by the wire feeder, it isnot jerked from the spool S since a slackV portion has been providedbetween the spool and the feeder, said slack portion passing over aresiliently supported spool Se (Fig. 1). After the wire is fed betweenthe dies of the bending press, the press shaft 25 operates awire-cutting device and causes the dies to form the severed wire into ahairpin for the use as a single turn on the conductor. The slack in thewire between the unreeler and the feeder is restored during the idlestatus of the feeder, while the unreeler is being continuously driven bythe press shaft.

While the embodiment ofthe present` invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bendingpress having an operating shaft, the combination Icomprising the pressoperating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool anddrivingly connected therewith, frames for supporting the shaft to permitrotation of the spool, a drive shaft connectible with the spool shaftand driven by the press shaft, a clutch for connecting the shafts andpermitting the spool shaftto overrun the drive shaft, means for stoppingthe spool, and means for disengaging the clutch and for rendering thespool stopping means effective.

2. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bendingpress having an operating shaft, the combination comprising the pressoperating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spoel anddrivingly connected therewith, frames for supporting the spool shaft topermit rotation of the spool, a drive shaft connectible with the spoolshaft and driven by the press shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaftsand permitting the spool shaft to overrun the drive shaft, means forstopping the spool, control means for stopping the press shaft, andmeans responsive to the functioning of said control means fordisengaging the clutch and for rendering the spool stopping meanseffective.

3. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool Yto abending press having an operating shaft, the combination comprising thepress operating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through thespool and drivingly connected therewith, a clutch driven part carriedVby the spool shaft, a clutch driving part operated by the shiftable intoengagement with the clutch driven part, vframes for supporting the spoolshaft with its clutch part in alignment with the clutch driving part,means for elevating the spool to the position wherein it is supported bythe frames, and means for moving the clutch driving part out ofengagement with the clutch driven part and thereafter for causing theejection of the spool shaft from the supporting frames.

4. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bendingpress having an operating shaft, the combination comprising the pressoperating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool anddrivingly connected therewith, a clutch driven part carried by the spoolsnai't, a clutch driving part shiftable into engagement with the clutchdrivenparhmeans operated by the press operating shaft for rotating theclutch driving part, cradle platesV for supporting the spool shafteither in alignment with the clutch driving part or in a position out ofalignment wherein the spool is discharged, frames supporting the cradleplates for movement into either of said positions, and means actuated bya single manually operated member for causing, in response to themovement of the manual member in one direction, said clutch parts to beuncoupled and the cradle plates thereafter to be moved into spooldischarging position and for causing, in response to the movement of themanual member in the other direction, the cradle plates to be returnedto the first mentioned position and the clutch parts thereafter to becoupled.

5. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bendingpress having `an operating shaft, the .combination comprising the pressshaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivinglyconnected therewith, frames for supporting the spool shaft to permitrotation of the spool, means for ejecting the spool and shaft from theframes, means for transmitting motion from the press shaft to the spoolshaft and including a clutch and a coupling connecting the clutch withthe spool shaft, means for effecting the stopping of the press shaft,means under the Acontrol of the press shaft stopping means for effectingdisconnection of said clutch, and means for disconnecting said couplingand thereafter for operating the ejecting means. Y

6. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bendingpress having an operating shaft, the combination comprising a supplyspool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivingly connectedtherewith, frames for supporting the spool shaft to permit rotation ofthe spool, a brake plate for engaging the spool, adjustable resilientmeans for urging the brake plate against the spool with pressuresufficient for tensioning the Wire as it is unreeled, and other meansfor urging the plate against the spool with pressure sufficient to stoprotation of the spool.

'7. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to abending press having an operating shaft, the combination comprising thepress operating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through thespool and drivingly connected therewith, frames for supporting the spoolshaft to permit rotation of the spool, a brake plate for engaging thespool, means for urging the brake plate against the spool with pressuresufficient for tensioning the wire as it is unreeled, control means forstopping the press shaft, and other means, re-

sponsive to the functioning of said control means to stop the pressshaft, for urging the plate against the spool withpressure sufficient tostop rotation of the spool.

8. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire spool to a bending press,the combination with a power operated drive shaft, a supply spool, ashaft extending through the spool and drivingly connected therewith,frames'for rotatably supporting the spool shaft inalignment with thedrive shaft, means for connecting the shafts, and means for lifting thespool and spool shaft' to Athe frames and includingk two articulateddevices adapted to be operated by a person concurrently, one of thedevices bengpulled up by the hands and the other beingpushed down by thefeet.

JAMES S. BURGE.

